Offbeat Pictures of The Week - January 17

The Hina decoration of the Doll's Festival

Big Rice Bale Tug-Of-War Takes Place

The Asahi Shimbun

Men only wear loinclothes attend the big rice bale tug-of-war in hope of good hearvest on January 14, 2013 in Aizubange, Fukushima, Japan. The festival, has more than 400 years history, is believed that the rice price rises when east team wins, the good harvest can be expected when west team wins. The west team won this year.

Men only wear loinclothes attend the big rice bale tug-of-war in hope of good hearvest on January 14, 2013 in Aizubange, Fukushima, Japan. The festival, has more than 400 years history, is believed that the rice price rises when east team wins, the good harvest can be expected when west team wins. The west team won this year.

Las Luminarias de San Anton Festival

Pablo Blazquez Dominguez

A man rides a horse through a bonfire on January 16, 2013 in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain. In honor of San Anton, the patron saint of animals, horses are riden through the bonfires on the night before the official day of honoring animals in Spain.

A man rides a horse through a bonfire on January 16, 2013 in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain. In honor of San Anton, the patron saint of animals, horses are riden through the bonfires on the night before the official day of honoring animals in Spain.

Las Luminarias de San Anton Festival

Pablo Blazquez Dominguez

A man rides a horse through smoke on January 16, 2013 in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain. In honor of San Anton, the patron saint of animals, horses are riden through the bonfires on the night before the official day of honoring animals in Spain.

A man rides a horse through smoke on January 16, 2013 in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain. In honor of San Anton, the patron saint of animals, horses are riden through the bonfires on the night before the official day of honoring animals in Spain.

Hindu Devotees Gather For The Maha Kumbh

Daniel Berehulak

Naga sadhus run in to bathe in the waters of the holy Ganges river during the auspicious bathing day of Makar Sankranti of the Maha Kumbh Mela on January 14, 2013 in Allahabad, India. The Maha Kumbh Mela, believed to be the largest religious gathering on earth is held every 12 years on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. The Kumbh Mela alternates between the cities of Nasik, Allahabad, Ujjain and Haridwar every three years. The Maha Kumbh Mela celebrated at the holy site of Sangam in Allahabad, is the largest and holiest, celebrated over 55 days, it is expected to attract over 100 million people.

Naga sadhus run in to bathe in the waters of the holy Ganges river during the auspicious bathing day of Makar Sankranti of the Maha Kumbh Mela on January 14, 2013 in Allahabad, India. The Maha Kumbh Mela, believed to be the largest religious gathering on earth is held every 12 years on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. The Kumbh Mela alternates between the cities of Nasik, Allahabad, Ujjain and Haridwar every three years. The Maha Kumbh Mela celebrated at the holy site of Sangam in Allahabad, is the largest and holiest, celebrated over 55 days, it is expected to attract over 100 million people.

Baby Rhino Ntombi Survives Poacher's

Gallo Images

Karen Trendler cares for Ntombi, a two-month old white rhino, at Legends Golf Estate on January 12, 2013 in Limpopo, South Africa. Ntombi survived a brutal panga attack, when poachers, poached her mother earlier this week. She sustained severe head injuries and is now being cared for in a rhino orphanage.

Karen Trendler cares for Ntombi, a two-month old white rhino, at Legends Golf Estate on January 12, 2013 in Limpopo, South Africa. Ntombi survived a brutal panga attack, when poachers, poached her mother earlier this week. She sustained severe head injuries and is now being cared for in a rhino orphanage.

CHINA-LEISURE-HEALTH

STR

This picture taken on January 17, 2013 shows 77-year-old retired teacher Gao Yinyu exercising in his underwear at a snow-covered bathing spot in Jilin, in northeastern China's Jilin province, in a temperature of minus 25 degrees Celsius. Gao has been exercising in only his underwear every morning for more than the past decade and has rarely caught cold ever since retirement. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO

This picture taken on January 17, 2013 shows 77-year-old retired teacher Gao Yinyu exercising in his underwear at a snow-covered bathing spot in Jilin, in northeastern China's Jilin province, in a temperature of minus 25 degrees Celsius. Gao has been exercising in only his underwear every morning for more than the past decade and has rarely caught cold ever since retirement. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO

GERMANY-ANIMAL-FEATURE

KARL-JOSEF HILDENBRAND

A thrush flies towards an apple in a garden in Kaufbeuren, southern Germany, on January 17, 2013. Thrush are insectivorous, but most species also eat land snails, worms, and fruit. AFP PHOTO / KARL-JOSEF HILDENBRAND GERMANY OUT

A thrush flies towards an apple in a garden in Kaufbeuren, southern Germany, on January 17, 2013. Thrush are insectivorous, but most species also eat land snails, worms, and fruit. AFP PHOTO / KARL-JOSEF HILDENBRAND GERMANY OUT

NETHERLANDS-ICE-FEATURE

AFP

An helicopter flies low above the Veluwemeer, a lake in central Holland, on January 17, 2013. The helicopter is hired by skating-clubs situated along the lake. They hope that its movements will make the ice snowfree, which could help ice growing faster. AFP PHOTO / ANP - BRAM VAN DE BIEZEN = netherlands out

An helicopter flies low above the Veluwemeer, a lake in central Holland, on January 17, 2013. The helicopter is hired by skating-clubs situated along the lake. They hope that its movements will make the ice snowfree, which could help ice growing faster. AFP PHOTO / ANP - BRAM VAN DE BIEZEN = netherlands out

FRANCE-EU-CULTURE-MARSEILLE

ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT

People look at the artwork 'Cerf/Frec' by the artist Luc Dubosc on the Old Harbour on January 17, 2012 in Marseille during the Event 'FunnyZoo' Marseille-Provence 2013 European Capital of Culture. The event marks the start of a year, leading to a cultural renaissance in France's second-largest metropolitan area .AFP PHOTO / ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT

People look at the artwork 'Cerf/Frec' by the artist Luc Dubosc on the Old Harbour on January 17, 2012 in Marseille during the Event 'FunnyZoo' Marseille-Provence 2013 European Capital of Culture. The event marks the start of a year, leading to a cultural renaissance in France's second-largest metropolitan area .AFP PHOTO / ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT

CZECH-ART-SCULPTURE

AFP

An Ice sculpture is pictured during the 15th International Sculpture Symposium 'Snow Kingdom 2013' in Pustevny, Czech on January 16, 2013. Regularly the event is attended by more than thirty artists and around ten thousand visitors.
MICA

An Ice sculpture is pictured during the 15th International Sculpture Symposium 'Snow Kingdom 2013' in Pustevny, Czech on January 16, 2013. Regularly the event is attended by more than thirty artists and around ten thousand visitors.
MICA

Phuket vegetarian festival inThailand

Igor Bilic

During the performances of religious rites at chinese temples in Phuket, the priests conduct various kinds of dangerous acts to show the power of their gods, to strengthen the faith of their followers and to rid them of their bad luck. These acts include walking barefoot across a stretch of ground paved with burning charcoal, climbing up and down, also barefoot, a stepladder with a total of 72 cross-pieces made of sharp iron blades, and cutting, striking or piercing parts of the body with sharp or pointed objects.
Phuket island, Thailand,

During the performances of religious rites at chinese temples in Phuket, the priests conduct various kinds of dangerous acts to show the power of their gods, to strengthen the faith of their followers and to rid them of their bad luck. These acts include walking barefoot across a stretch of ground paved with burning charcoal, climbing up and down, also barefoot, a stepladder with a total of 72 cross-pieces made of sharp iron blades, and cutting, striking or piercing parts of the body with sharp or pointed objects.
Phuket island, Thailand,

GERMANY-FASHION-ANIMAL-PROTEST

JOHN MACDOUGALL

Activists of German animal protection organisation 'Deutsches Tierschutzbuero' (German office for animal protection) hold a banner in front of the catwalk hall of the Berlin Fashion week, on January 16, 2013. The activists protests against the presentation of real fur during the Berlin Fashion Week that takes place from January 15 to 20, 2013. AFP PHOTO / JOHN MACDOUGALL

Activists of German animal protection organisation 'Deutsches Tierschutzbuero' (German office for animal protection) hold a banner in front of the catwalk hall of the Berlin Fashion week, on January 16, 2013. The activists protests against the presentation of real fur during the Berlin Fashion Week that takes place from January 15 to 20, 2013. AFP PHOTO / JOHN MACDOUGALL

NZEALAND-ANIMAL-WHALE

MARTY MELVILLE

The dead body of a 15 metre sperm whale (C) lies on a Paraparaumu beach on the Kapiti Coast on January 16, 2013. Hundreds of people gathered to see the whale which was washed up on the beach overnight after it died. AFP PHOTO / MARTY MELVILLE

The dead body of a 15 metre sperm whale (C) lies on a Paraparaumu beach on the Kapiti Coast on January 16, 2013. Hundreds of people gathered to see the whale which was washed up on the beach overnight after it died. AFP PHOTO / MARTY MELVILLE